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Working together for safety at SVRZ
With more than 3,600 employees and around 3,000 clients across 60 locations, SVRZ is one of the largest healthcare organizations in Zeeland. The organization provides elderly care in three regions, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Walcheren, and Oosterschelde primarily in small-scale residential settings.
SVRZ offers nursing home care, geriatric rehabilitation, as well as home care and day care services. In SVRZ’s residences, typically six to seven clients live together. Safety is particularly crucial in these settings, as employees often work alone
Safety as a priority
At SVRZ, safety is a top priority. Many clients are not self-reliant, which means that fire safety, rapid alerting, and clear protocols require constant attention. Agreements have been made with the regional safety authority to ensure that help can arrive within ten minutes in the event of an emergency — even at night.
SVRZ has also made significant investments in fire detection, fire-resistant walls, and door closers, ensuring that its buildings are as safe as possible.
Peter de Regt, Facility Manager at the SVRZ Service Center and Coordinator for Healthcare Continuity, plays a key role in this process. He ensures that protocols remain up to date and that cooperation with the safety region runs smoothly. He was also involved in the introduction of a modern alerting system, replacing the old and often outdated call lists.
From call lists to rapid alerting
In the past, emergencies were managed using a manual call list — a process that took valuable time, and the lists were often outdated. Today, SVRZ uses the MultiBel safety platform, which allows employees to send an alert instantly and efficiently. As a result, no precious minutes are lost in the event of a fire or other incident.
A practical example: during a scabies outbreak, all relevant employees were informed about the necessary precautions within five minutes via a MultiBel message — a clear demonstration of the power of fast and wide-reaching communication.
Training and drills
All SVRZ employees are trained as evacuation assistants, meaning everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. Each year, employees complete a practical training session and an e-learning module to refresh their knowledge. The focus is on alerting and evacuation, while firefighting is intentionally left to the fire department.
The system is regularly tested. New employees are added and verified, and another large-scale test is planned after the summer to evaluate system performance and response speed.
Looking ahead
SVRZ continues to invest in safety. A pilot project is currently underway to ensure that fire alarms are forwarded directly to the appropriate personnel. The organization is also exploring lone worker protection applications, enabling employees working alone to request help quickly when needed.
Conclusion
At SVRZ, safety always comes first. With clear protocols, strong cooperation with the regional safety authority, continuous training, and modern communication tools, the organization is well prepared for emergencies.
Clients and employees alike can rely on swift and effective action — especially when it matters most.
